Page 36 of A Daddy for Christmas 3: Nova
“Can we head out to the seafood shack?” I asked. “Ezekiel’s food is amazing.”
“Absolutely, that’s been my go-to spot for years,” he replied. “He’s got a cousin who’s been helping him upgrade a food truck. I can’t wait until they have it up and running.”
“A mobile crab shack would really help them expand their customer base,” I said as I stared out the window at sights that would soon become part of my daily life. “I never thought I’d be ringing in the new year with so many changes on the horizon. I am so grateful for the way things turned out.”
“You and me both.”
We were all smiles as we climbed back in the truck, tucked our treasure chests in the center console, and off we went. The sounds, the scents, and the smells as we rolled up to the crab shack just encouraged my stomach to growl louder.
“Well, it’s good to see you two back again,” Ezekiel said as we hopped up on stools. “Nova, are you still enjoying your time here on our island?”
“So much so that I just got a job here,” I explained. “Which means you’ll see plenty more of me. I plan to work my way through every item on the menu, starting with the lobster rolls, lobster bites, and crab-stuffed lobster tails.”
He chuckled at that and sat a coaster in front of me before returning the menu he’d been about to pass me to the stack of those resting on the edge of the counter.
“How about you double everything he said?” Robbie replied. “And hook us up with a big side of macaroni salad and a couple rolls.”
“You and those rolls,” he chuckled.
“Man, I don’t know what it is about those things, or if it’s just the way you bake them in that old oven of yours, but they are addicting, with or without a dab of your special spicy pineapple butter.”
“If you ever bottle that, just know that I would stand in line for half the day just to get one,” I said. “I could see myself putting it on so many things.”
“Flattery just might get you a bottle one of these days,” Ezekiel said. “You’re not the only one to suggest that I find a way to sell it and a few of the other sauces we make here at the shack. I’ve got Willie looking into it, so who knows, sometime here in the new year you might be able to buy a few take-home bottles.”
“I am already looking forward to that day,” I declared.
“You better hang on to this one, Robbie, or someone older, wiser, and handsomer just might swoop in and lure him away with a platter of lobster cakes drizzled with creamy lemon butter sauce.”
“Oh my god, how have I not spotted those on the menu?” I asked, drool collecting at the corner of my mouth as I squirmed in my seat.
“I haven’t added them yet,” Ezekiel declared. “But I can certainly hook you two up with a test batch.”
“Please,” I begged, folding my hands beneath my chin and giving him puppy dog eyes.
“You got it,” he said shaking his head at me before setting glasses of ice water on the coasters.
“I’m serious Robbie, you let this get away from you and I will swoop in on my board and snag him right out of the surf,” Ezekiel threatened while Robbie and I chuckled as we read through the drink menu, trying to decide which mocktails we’d like tonight.
“Nova feels like forever,” Robbie said. “So don’t even think about trying to swoop in on your board. If I screw up I’ll make it right, but I plan to keep him tethered to me for the rest of my days.”
“Awe, man, you got it bad,” Ezekial said, chuckling at him.
“Damn right I do.”
“It’s a good look on you.”
“Thanks man. I think I’m going to go with a Paloma tonight,” Robbie replied.
I leaned over to get a better look at the drink, immediately piping up when I saw a beautiful, sparkling drink with a wedge of grapefruit resting over the rim of the glass in the photograph on the menu. “Oh, whoa. I’ve never tried one of those.”
“Do you like grapefruit soda?” Robbie asked.
Brain screech.
It was a good thing the stools we were sitting on were carved out of solid wood and as sturdy as anything I’d ever come across, or I’d have tipped it over, in my haste to study Robbie to see if he was messing with me.
“Wait, what? They make grapefruit soda?”